70 The next Morning
Mara
The next morning, we set out for breakfast in the right wing of the mansion. The atmosphere was calmer than expected, but the undercurrent of tension still lingered.
Lucian told me Tina was under watch-his orders. If she truly drank poison and endangered the baby, she wouldn’t be walking away from this without consequences. But deep down, I didn’t believe she took anything dangerous. Maybe something mild to slow her heart rate and make a scene. She was too self-absorbed to die for Lucian. What she wanted was attention. What she got was the opposite.
Lucian had been clear: next time, he’d let her die.
We arrived at the table, and Tiffany flashed me a knowing smile. I didn’t need to guess what it meant-everyone likely knew my heat had just ended. I avoided eye contact, choosing instead to focus on the glassware like it was the most interesting thing in the world. Darian was absent, and in that moment, I envied him deeply. Skipping this breakfast suddenly felt like a brilliant idea.
“Lucian, I must commend your effort,” Alpha Vander said, loud and unapologetic. “Being your first heat and all.”
I nearly choked on my toast.
I started coughing, reaching quickly for the orange juice, wishing I could drown myself in it. My face burned, and I silently thanked my tan for hiding the blush I was sure was creeping up my neck.
“Your mother’s heat was my first,” Vander continued, completely unbothered by the discomfort he was causing. “And let me tell you, it was… memorable.”
I wanted to vanish. Right then and there.
“Vander, darling,” Martha interjected smoothly. “Can’t you see you’re making Mara uncomfortable?”
Not that she cared. She just didn’t want her mate reminiscing about another woman-especially Lucian’s mother.
“Mara is a woman now. She can handle this conversation, Vander replied, still annoyingly cheerful.
“Besides, heat is a part of every mated couple’s life. The first month after claiming, and then every three months after. It gets easier, once you’re familiar with each other-learn to read each other’s signals.”
He wasn’t going to stop until he’d given the full lecture, apparently.
“Father,” Lucian cut in, voice calm but decisive. “I’ll be taking Mara on holiday tomorrow. I’ve asked Mary to forward any
urgent work to me.”
I turned to him, grateful. He met my eyes briefly and linked me with a soft, private message:
“I know you want to get away from here.”
I nodded subtly and gave him a small smile in return.
“May I ask where you’re going?” Vander said, his tone curious but edged.
Lucian offered a cool smile. “Given the recent events-and the fact that some of the attackers are still at large-I’m keeping it spontaneous. That way, no one can track us.”
Vander nodded slowly, impressed. “Smart. Very wise.”
But I had a feeling Lucian already knew exactly where he was taking me. He just wasn’t saying it aloud.
70 The hexd Moraig
And I had a feeling it had less to do with strategy…
…and more to do with keeping Martha in the dark.
While we were finishing breakfast, Lucian’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and answered casually.
“Darian, what’s up?”
He paused, listening.
“Okay. Thank you. Good job.”
He hung up.
Vander raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”
Lucian didn’t hesitate. “Private affair.”
Vander didn’t press, but it was clear he wasn’t thrilled to be left out of the loop.
Lucian pushed his chair back. “We should be leaving now.”
Martha, ever the thorn, cut in smoothly. “Mara should be resting, darling. Especially now-these hours are crucial for conception.”
Lucian didn’t flinch. Didn’t even look her way.
“She should be in bed,” Martha added, her voice tighter. “That’s when the chances are highest.”
“Tiffany and Tina didn’t need to be in heat to conceive-I’m sure my Luna can manage,” Lucian interrupted, his tone sharp, deliberate. “And she doesn’t need to be coddled or controlled.”
Before Martha could fire back, Lucian stood and offered me his hand. I took it, and together, we walked briskly out of the lounge, leaving the room and its tension behind.
He didn’t say where we were headed, but I already knew.
The clinic. Just like he’d promised.
3.71 We Found Something
Pemts Y
